A Norfolk woman and diversity campaigner has appeared in court after allegedly verbally threatening trans women.

Linda Bellos, 67, who lives in Bixley near Norwich, has been charged under section five of the Public Order Act, which bans “threatening or abusive words or behaviour” that is likely to cause “harassment, alarm or distress”.

The private prosecution, brought by Giuliana Kendal after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the case, comes after an event about the Gender Recognition Act in York last November.

Bellos, the former leader of Lambeth Borough Council, appeared alongside 43-year-old Rose Venice Allen, who is charged with one count of sending an offensive message by a public communications network, after posting a video of Bellos’ comments online.

The preliminary hearing was held at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 26, with a second hearing provisionally set for November 30.